When it gets really cold outside, I like to spend a lot of time huddling up with coffee and a blanket and Cooper (and John when he's home). This is an essential waste of time that I really can't afford to use these days, but one that I cherish while I'm doing it. So today, I'm going to Thank the Universe for 20 things it has given me and all the things I am visualizing for myself and hope this time of idle cuddling isn't so wasted.
(these are in no particular order)
1. Thank you for bringing Cooper into my life.
2. Thank you for helping Cooper remember he doesn't like to eat poop because it makes him feel bad ( I can't even get into the details right now, but let's just thank the universe here for it being a passing phase).
3. Thank you for showing me the path to meet John and giving me the patience and presence of mind and self to wait for him and recognize him when the time was right.
4. Thank you for my family, who is ever supportive and keeping me on my toes.
5. Thank you for John's family.
6. Thank you for my friends, who never cease to amaze me.
7. Thank you for my optimism. In times like now, it keeps me sane and gives me words on inspiration to share with others. The more I stay positive while others feel sorry for me, the more my universe becomes positive.
8. Thank you for my motivation & focus. It comes from within so I need very little fuel to keep this fire going.
9. Thank you for Saucony running shoes. They cushion my feet and make it feel like I'm running on clouds.
10. Thank you for this body of mine. I appreciate the systems working together that make it possible for me to run and walk and dance and play.
11. Thank you for my talents. I am happy to have something that I can share with others.
12. Thank you for giving me passion.
13. Thank you for my wealth. Not just the monetary kind, but the wealth of love that I am able to give and the love that I receive.
14. Thank you for Pete. Petey is the cookies to the vanilla in the cookies and cream ice cream flavor that is Pete and Coop. Always a surprise and always sweet.
15. Thank you for Sammy Boy.
16. Thank you for Molly Girl. Our relationship has yet to fully develop, but I'm starting to get her.
17. Thank you for my bakery. I love the happiness it brings during the hours I spend visualizing the place I want to be.
18. Thank you for my consulting business & the funding it will bring to achieve my bakery.
19. Thank you for opportunity. The possibilities you have given me by allowing me to work in a bakery are so much broader now.
20. Thank you for good coffee. The fuel that makes me nicer, happier, and more alive every morning.
I'm feeling a little better now.
Time to get this day rolling.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
We're Really a 2 Dog Home
I'll split this post into two unrelated subjects. First, I want to share a recipe I made up the other night because it was really, really good if you like pork tenderloin. Then we'll get down to the business of life with Coop.
So first, I'm going to call this:
Sweet Onion Pork
1 pork roast, 3-5 lbs
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 cup olive oil, divided
1/3 cup honey, divided
1/3 cup worcestershire sauce (I use Lea & Perrins), divided
small bunch of fresh thyme
1/2 large onion, diced
3 garlic cloves
2 heaping spoonfuls of apple butter
1 tsp garlic pepper seasoning
1 tsp cinnamon
water
3 Tbsp butter
6 large carrots, peeled and sliced
1. Trim excess fat from pork roast. Place pork roast in large skillet, sprinkle with salt and pepper. Add 1/4 olive oil, 3 Tbsp honey, and 3 Tbsp worcestershire sauce. Turn roast to coat, and place skillet over medium high heat. Brown pork on all sides, about 5-7 minutes. This seals in the juices to keep it tender.
2. In a 4 qt slow cooker, combine remaining ingredients except water, butter, and carrots and stir to blend. Carefully transfer pork roast to slow cooker, making sure to add the juices from the pan into the slow cooker. Add just enough water so that only the very top of the pork roast is visible and stir carefully until everything is well incorporated. Turn slow cooker on low and let it cook for 5 hours, stirring occasionally.
3. After 5 hours, cube the butter and add to the slow cooker, along with the carrots. Let it cook for 1-2 more hours. Your total cook time should be for 6-7 hours.
I think you can also use chicken stock or white wine instead of water, but I didn't have any when I made this. Great with mashed taters!
Ok, onto other business.
I've decided we really are a 2 dog kind of house. Here's my list of reasons why:
1. Cooper is more active and happy
2. Pete is calmer and more happy
3. I don't feel nearly as bad when I leave to go somewhere when they are together
4. Cooper and Pete are more likely to stay on the dog bed on the floor all night
5. John and I each have a dog to cuddle with
6. Taking them outside is more fun and less of uuuughhhhh, "just do your business already!"
7. They have a constant playmate
8. They learn from each other's good habits
9. They sleep longer from playing harder
10. Showdowns and dog play time is really so much more fun when there are 2 dogs
That said, I wish we could keep the Petey Pete all the time, but I realize that Pete is promoting better health, sharper wits, and exercise for Sammy Boy. I wish we could also take Sammy boy, but Sammy is too old to be moving around again.
On a side note, since I'm not sure I've mentioned it, Pete and Sam are John's 2 dogs that live for the most part, at his Dad's house since his Dad is home more often and can give them more attention. I've taken to picking Pete up and keeping him for a couple of days at a time and now I'm convinced that we really need a 2nd dog around. But I can't steal Petey Pete or Sam and I just don't know if a 4th dog is really what John and I need right now.
Also, if you've never seen a showdown between dogs, it's really something awesome to watch. Just think of Animal Planet style prowling on hardwood floors in an apartment. Staring, staring, sloowwwwwlllly creeping towards each other, staring some more, and then.....POUNCE! And because it's also hardwood, scrambling and flailing become a major part of the Coop and Pete showdowns.
I took Pete home this morning and this afternoon, Cooper has been back to his usual weekday self- lethargic and uninterested. I went on an hour run today (thanking the universe for the BEAUTIFUL weather!) and found him in the same spot I left him in. Come to think of it, while I've been cooling down and writing, he's not moved an awful lot either.
On to finish my chili and polenta for tonight. Cheers.
So first, I'm going to call this:
Sweet Onion Pork
1 pork roast, 3-5 lbs
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 cup olive oil, divided
1/3 cup honey, divided
1/3 cup worcestershire sauce (I use Lea & Perrins), divided
small bunch of fresh thyme
1/2 large onion, diced
3 garlic cloves
2 heaping spoonfuls of apple butter
1 tsp garlic pepper seasoning
1 tsp cinnamon
water
3 Tbsp butter
6 large carrots, peeled and sliced
1. Trim excess fat from pork roast. Place pork roast in large skillet, sprinkle with salt and pepper. Add 1/4 olive oil, 3 Tbsp honey, and 3 Tbsp worcestershire sauce. Turn roast to coat, and place skillet over medium high heat. Brown pork on all sides, about 5-7 minutes. This seals in the juices to keep it tender.
2. In a 4 qt slow cooker, combine remaining ingredients except water, butter, and carrots and stir to blend. Carefully transfer pork roast to slow cooker, making sure to add the juices from the pan into the slow cooker. Add just enough water so that only the very top of the pork roast is visible and stir carefully until everything is well incorporated. Turn slow cooker on low and let it cook for 5 hours, stirring occasionally.
3. After 5 hours, cube the butter and add to the slow cooker, along with the carrots. Let it cook for 1-2 more hours. Your total cook time should be for 6-7 hours.
I think you can also use chicken stock or white wine instead of water, but I didn't have any when I made this. Great with mashed taters!
Ok, onto other business.
I've decided we really are a 2 dog kind of house. Here's my list of reasons why:
1. Cooper is more active and happy
2. Pete is calmer and more happy
3. I don't feel nearly as bad when I leave to go somewhere when they are together
4. Cooper and Pete are more likely to stay on the dog bed on the floor all night
5. John and I each have a dog to cuddle with
6. Taking them outside is more fun and less of uuuughhhhh, "just do your business already!"
7. They have a constant playmate
8. They learn from each other's good habits
9. They sleep longer from playing harder
10. Showdowns and dog play time is really so much more fun when there are 2 dogs
That said, I wish we could keep the Petey Pete all the time, but I realize that Pete is promoting better health, sharper wits, and exercise for Sammy Boy. I wish we could also take Sammy boy, but Sammy is too old to be moving around again.
On a side note, since I'm not sure I've mentioned it, Pete and Sam are John's 2 dogs that live for the most part, at his Dad's house since his Dad is home more often and can give them more attention. I've taken to picking Pete up and keeping him for a couple of days at a time and now I'm convinced that we really need a 2nd dog around. But I can't steal Petey Pete or Sam and I just don't know if a 4th dog is really what John and I need right now.
Also, if you've never seen a showdown between dogs, it's really something awesome to watch. Just think of Animal Planet style prowling on hardwood floors in an apartment. Staring, staring, sloowwwwwlllly creeping towards each other, staring some more, and then.....POUNCE! And because it's also hardwood, scrambling and flailing become a major part of the Coop and Pete showdowns.
I took Pete home this morning and this afternoon, Cooper has been back to his usual weekday self- lethargic and uninterested. I went on an hour run today (thanking the universe for the BEAUTIFUL weather!) and found him in the same spot I left him in. Come to think of it, while I've been cooling down and writing, he's not moved an awful lot either.
On to finish my chili and polenta for tonight. Cheers.
Friday, January 8, 2010
ROLL TIDE
Yes, I am now one of those girlfriends who adopts their boyfriend's sports team fanship. Although, in my defense, I changed over to Steelers fan-mania before I started dating John. When you live in a city full of rabid Steelers fans, they kind of suck you in. First, they make you re-love football, and then they start to brainwash you. So I started watching the Steelers and quit watching the Bengals.
Then I started dating John. John grew up in Pittsburgh, fell in love with football and played it, and then went to the University of Alabama for college. And I thought Steelers fans were intense. To spend time with a group of Alabama fans is to understand what it means bleed crimson. I'm telling you, it's like magnetic energy. This one girl we met at the Western Pennsylvania Alabama Alumni Association viewing of the SEC Championship game didn't even go to Alabama, but she was so dedicated to it. She has the gear and the routine and the knowledge I thought only men could record in their brains (sports factoids). In any case, you want to be a part of it. So I became a part of it. I think John is still suspicious of my fanship, even when during the SEC championship game I was shouting at the top of my lungs for the Alabama defense to get him, get Tebow!
Last night was the BCS championship game and I was snowed in with Coop. Where was John, you ask? In sunny, balmy, 68 degree Vegas. Alone, Coop and I watched the Tide roll on through Texas. I noticed something...
Not only have I adopted Alabama fanship, but Coop-a-loop seems to have adopted it too. Last night all through the game, Cooper paced in front of the TV. He sat a foot away from the TV at times and stared at the screen. He sat with me and panted and panted and panted and drooled. My dog was stressing out! I took him out a half-time, thinking, ok, maybe he's in need of a bathroom break. But when he came back in, it got worse! So I decided to go digging through John's closet for this handy little t-shirt John has from his collegiate days. It reads F*** AUBURN! Not exactly Texas, but it channels the energy of John and the Tide. Please note, I NEVER dress my dog, except for his rain coat. And I only use that because I can't get him to go outside and go to the bathroom in the rain without it.
That said, I put the t-shirt on Coop. He was confused by the shirt, but decided it wasn't too awfully bad and sat down on the couch with me for a good ten minutes to watch the game. He wasn't panting anymore.
10 minutes later, he was trying to eat it though.
ROLL TIDE.
In other notes, earlier this week I posted 3 goals for myself.
1. Get a job at Pie Place
2. Finish my marathon training, week 1
3. Call Coops Vet about finalizing TDI paperwork
Well, consider number 1 complete! The offered me the job and I start on Tuesday!
I also ran again today. I really wish it would stop snowing. It is so tough to get a good pace going when it's 20 degrees and slippery on the sidewalks. But one more day of week 1, then 16 weeks to go!
Then I started dating John. John grew up in Pittsburgh, fell in love with football and played it, and then went to the University of Alabama for college. And I thought Steelers fans were intense. To spend time with a group of Alabama fans is to understand what it means bleed crimson. I'm telling you, it's like magnetic energy. This one girl we met at the Western Pennsylvania Alabama Alumni Association viewing of the SEC Championship game didn't even go to Alabama, but she was so dedicated to it. She has the gear and the routine and the knowledge I thought only men could record in their brains (sports factoids). In any case, you want to be a part of it. So I became a part of it. I think John is still suspicious of my fanship, even when during the SEC championship game I was shouting at the top of my lungs for the Alabama defense to get him, get Tebow!
Last night was the BCS championship game and I was snowed in with Coop. Where was John, you ask? In sunny, balmy, 68 degree Vegas. Alone, Coop and I watched the Tide roll on through Texas. I noticed something...
Not only have I adopted Alabama fanship, but Coop-a-loop seems to have adopted it too. Last night all through the game, Cooper paced in front of the TV. He sat a foot away from the TV at times and stared at the screen. He sat with me and panted and panted and panted and drooled. My dog was stressing out! I took him out a half-time, thinking, ok, maybe he's in need of a bathroom break. But when he came back in, it got worse! So I decided to go digging through John's closet for this handy little t-shirt John has from his collegiate days. It reads F*** AUBURN! Not exactly Texas, but it channels the energy of John and the Tide. Please note, I NEVER dress my dog, except for his rain coat. And I only use that because I can't get him to go outside and go to the bathroom in the rain without it.
That said, I put the t-shirt on Coop. He was confused by the shirt, but decided it wasn't too awfully bad and sat down on the couch with me for a good ten minutes to watch the game. He wasn't panting anymore.
10 minutes later, he was trying to eat it though.
ROLL TIDE.
In other notes, earlier this week I posted 3 goals for myself.
1. Get a job at Pie Place
2. Finish my marathon training, week 1
3. Call Coops Vet about finalizing TDI paperwork
Well, consider number 1 complete! The offered me the job and I start on Tuesday!
I also ran again today. I really wish it would stop snowing. It is so tough to get a good pace going when it's 20 degrees and slippery on the sidewalks. But one more day of week 1, then 16 weeks to go!
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